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Friday, June 11, 2010

During our road trip we toured several museums, including a Train Depot in Independence, KS on this May day. However, more interesting to the boys than the train museum was this cool school bus in the parking lot. They made friends with the bus driver and got to climb aboard as well. Haha. :)

Swimming in Nana and Papa's pool! We went swimming every afternoon on our trip-- and we all LOVED it. One of the best ways to cool off in that incredible Arizona heat.

We visited the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City on our road trip in May. Behind Nick is $40 million dollars... I don't know, Nick, with three hungry little boys to deplete our savings, this may be the closest you'll ever get...

"Hold me, please, Mommy!!!!!"

"Say, what??" I just love those flared nostrils! :)

"I'm not too sure about this thing that keeps snapping and flashing in my face (camera), but I sure love the gal who's holding me!!"

Noah started smiling at 5 weeks--- his grins started out small and careful like this one, but now he's smiling enormous grins that spread across his entire face! I just love this phase where they learn new "tricks" every day! So cute!

Isaiah and Joshua shared a bed almost every night on our road trip in May. Some nights it led to a bit of goofiness, but most nights they snuggled right up and fell asleep.

What can I say? We start them young around here!! Noah is having his first exposure to John Calvin's Institutes at 6 weeks old

"Mom, we're "cold"' (meaning, "we have our shirts off")

Nick graduated with his Master's Degree in Civil Engineering on May 15th and to celebrate his last final exam, the boys and I met him at the door with homemade "Happy Graduation" signs. I had asked Isaiah what he wanted to write dad, and after giving him a few tips (like "way to go" or "Happy Graduation"), Isaiah chose to write, "Happy Shoulder Rides, Dad!!" (which is the first thing they ask for from Daddy when he comes home in the evening)

It's been a while, I know. Despite how much I love to think "out loud" on this blog, my time has been consumed elsewhere. Often I have thought about writing, but at the end of the day my mind and my fingers could not express the depth of my thoughts. That, and the draining "newborn phase" zapped most of my time and energy.

But here we are... my newborn nearly 2 months old, my house almost completely packed. The vacation we planned has been had and my cupboards are almost empty... our next move is staring us in the face.

The emotional highs and lows are hard to express. I'm excited to move to a new place, see new things and meet new people. I'm also fearful and at times a bit anxious, starting over can be so hard. I hate to say goodbye to dear friends and all that is familiar. Challenges.

Challenges. They come in all shapes and sizes. But thankfully the Lord is guiding us and supporting us through them all; answering our prayers before we ask them. Two wonderful blessings that I'll mention now (although these blessings do not even come close to the bounty that has been showered upon us!)

1) Nick talked with the unit that he'll be joining at our new post. They are ready and waiting for him. And they also gave us the good news that the unit is just getting HOME from Afghanistan...meaning that the unit should be home for at least the next year... meaning Nick should be home for at least another year. Which means, we're not looking at a deployment in 2010 after all. Praise the LORD!!! (as a side note, Nick reminds me that things are always changing in the Army, so not to get too too excited).

2) My 3 dear little boys did amazingly well on our 3500 mile road trip and endured 60+ hours in the car as we drove to CO and then down to AZ and back home again through numerous other states. I could not have asked for a better trip! We caught up with friends and family, enjoyed the gorgeous dry (as in, not humid) weather, and felt nostalgic traveling through our old stomping grounds. Oh, and did I mention that my dear little Noah, just 5 1/2 weeks old when we left, started sleeping through the night while we were away? It's amazing to get home from a vacation and to truly feel more rested than when we left.

God is good. And while I feel nervous about what the future holds, I know that "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2